Denver welcomes Holliday returns

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DENVER The shortest player in the league turned in the biggest performance for the Denver Broncos.

Yet Trindon Holliday's record day still couldn't lift his team over the Baltimore Ravens.

Holliday went 90 yards running back a punt the first time Denver touched the ball against Baltimore on Saturday. Then he returned the second-half kickoff 104 yards to become the first player to score on a kick and punt return in the same playoff game.

But the Broncos blew a late lead and lost, 38-35, in double overtime in the divisional-round game.

And that overshadowed any accomplishment — big time.

“Oh, man, it was tough,” Holliday said of walking off the field, knowing the season was over. “It was tough to see that happen.”

The 5-foot-5 Holliday gained 248 yards on returns, the most in a postseason game. It also earned a healthy dose of respect from Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who has seen enough of Holliday to last quite a while.

“It was painful,” Harbaugh said. “We just didn't cover very well, and they just blocked it really well, and this guy, Trindon Holliday, he's a really great player. I've never seen anything like that.”

On his punt return, Holliday was barely touched as he sprinted down the right side of the field to the end zone, where a host of Broncos ran to greet him.

Former Ravens returner Jermaine Lewis held the playoff punt return record of 88 yards against Pittsburgh on Jan. 20, 2002.

Holliday opened the second half by fielding the kick in the end zone, cutting left, slipping out of Chykie Brown's tackle and was on his way.

The previous record for a kickoff return was 102 yards by Atlanta's Eric Weems in 2010.

With those 248 return yards, Holliday surpassed the mark shared by Andre Coleman of San Diego on Jan. 29, 1995, in the Super Bowl, and Desmond Howard of Green Bay on Jan. 26, 1997, also in the Super Bowl. Each had 244 total return yards, and Howard was the MVP of that Super Bowl.

Holliday was assigned to the Broncos through waivers when he was let go by Houston in October.

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